From Monday 8 March, the first step of the Government’s roadmap for moving the country out of lockdown comes into force. This means that the guidelines will change slightly and more of our students will be returning to campus.

To support them, a small number of additional essential staff have also been asked to return. For the vast majority of staff, it is still important to stay at home – you should only be returning to campus if you have been asked to do so.

What you need to do

If you are already working on campus, or about to return, here’s a helpful reminder of our current safety guidelines:

• Keep to 2m social distancing in all areas, including research laboratories, teaching spaces and facilities.
• Unless you’re exempt, face coverings should be worn in all areas which are accessed by others. This includes multi-occupancy offices even if individuals are working at 2m social distancing or there are Perspex screens in place. More widely, staff and students are expected to follow Government guidance on face coverings.
• Face shields should be worn by staff in all student-facing roles and, if it does not interfere with communication, learning or teaching, also wear a face covering.
• All staff accessing campus regularly should be tested for Covid-19 twice a week. The University has Asymptomatic Test Sites in the Sports Centre at Canterbury campus and the Deep End in Medway. Booking is available via our Coronavirus webpages. If visiting on an ad hoc basis, you should be tested on the days you are on campus. Anyone receiving a positive test result while on campus must go home immediately, following our COVID reporting procedure.

Safety measures on campus

A number of measures are in place to ensure staff stay as safe as possible while on campus. These include:

• Maximum occupancy numbers calculated based on social distancing requirements and the need to minimise the transmission of the Coronavirus. Individual room occupancies have been determined by applying the 2m rule and each room in use will have occupancy limits indicated on the door.
• Social distancing signage displayed in all areas of the buildings to highlight maximum occupancies for different spaces.
• A one-way system in common areas of buildings (corridors, reception areas, stairwells, lifts) to help with social distancing.
• Signage to remind staff of good hygiene: washing hands more regularly, proper hand washing technique, use of tissues to catch coughs and sneezes etc.
• Sanitising units with hand sanitizer at strategic locations in every general building on campus.
• Staff should work at their own defined work area to ensure social distancing guidelines are followed, that communal use of equipment is avoided as much as possible, and to prevent the need for people to pass close by each other to reach equipment.
• All staff working on campus are expected to download the NHS coronavirus tracing app, if they have a suitable mobile device.

Remember that every member of staff plays a key role in ensuring their own personal safety and that of their colleagues. If you have any questions, please see our Staff Coronavirus webpages or email CovidSupport@kent.ac.uk for further support.